Station selector system



Feb. 28 1939. J. o. CARR STATION SELECTOR SYSTEM Filed Dec. 31. 1936 r L Fi .3 W WW FiG. 4

Patented Feb. 28, 1939 s'ra'rron'smo'ron sYsrnM John 0. Carr, Park Ridge, 111., minor to Tcletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 31, loss, SerialNo. 118,582

23 Claims.

. The present invention pertains to telegraphic communication systems and more particularly to telegraph systems involving a plurality of stations arranged with instrumentalities for their selective interconnection for the purpose of telegraphic communication.

An object of the invention is the provision of a simple and a reliable mechanism to enable any station of a telegraph system toselect another station or a plurality of stations with which it is desired to communicate,

A further object is to enable an originating station, after selecting a desired station or stations, to establish a condition by which all other stations of the system are excluded from interrupting theestablished communication without due notice to the communicating stations.

Features of the invention reside in the provi sion of rapidly operating means for selecting and qualifying stations desired for communication. and means to hold both the station selecting means and the telegraphic equipment of all stations inert except when activity for operation thereof is required.

The above enumerated and other objects are attained by utilizing a plurality of printing telegraph sets oi any-desired type, each having as parts thereof a motor driven printer-selector and a driving. motor therefor, to which a motor driven distributor with associated relays and a separate driving motor therefor are added to effect the method of operation according to the present invention; namely, that an operator at any station may start all station-selector motors to driveall station-selector distributors, then by means of the station-selector distributors operating in response to character code signals, may select and condition all stations desired for communication, then may stop motors of station selectors at all unselected stations so that no further selection of stations can occur during the established connection, and may communicate thereafter between' or among the conditioned stations exclusively.

A more complete understanding of the inven- 45 tion will beobtained fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 illustrates fully the circuits of a. station associated with a line circuit;

Fig. 2 illustrates the line circuit of Fig. land illustrates three associated stations of the type 11-- lustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 discloses a detail of variation between the circuits of the station of Fig. land circuits of a second station of Fig. 2;; and

Fig. 4 discloses a corresponding detail of variation between the circuits of the station of Fig, 1

and circuits of a third station of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 jointly, a line circuit 1 has three associated stations, indicated 5 at W, X, and Y, whose calling code signals of permutation nature are W, X, and Y respectively. Complete circuits of station W are shown in Fig.

1, including local circuit conductors 2 and 3 which appear also in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig.1 for station. 10

W, certain relay armatures andcontacts are ar ranged in series connection between conductors 2 and 3 in permutation code signal manner to correspond to the permutation code signal W, the

' call signal for that station. In like manner, in Fig. iii

3 for station X corresponding relay armatures and contacts are arranged between conductors 2 and 3 of station X to correspond to the permutation code signal X. Similarly in Fig. 4 for station Y,

the analogous relay armatures and contacts are 20 arranged to correspond to the permutation code signal Y. In all other details, stations W, X, and

Y are identical, including identical wiring for relay windings and armatures shown unconnected in Figs. 3 and 4. '25

Referring to Fig. 1, winding of a signal responsive line relay 4, contacts of a five-unit permutation code signal transmitter 5, which may be of keyboard type or automatic type, and contacts of a manual break key 6 are connected in series 30 in line circuit I. A start-stop rotary distributor 1 of electrical commutator type is responsive. through relay 4 to control by code signal transmitter 5 of its own station W or by a corresponding transmitter at station X or station Y. Al- 85 ternatively, through switching functioning of relay contacts, line relay 4' may control a printer selector magnet 8.

According to Patent No. 1,904,164, issued to S. Morton et al., of which structural parts are em- 40 bodied in Fig, 1 of the present system, it is provided that an electrical contact embodied in the mechanical structure of a printer selector shall be automatically opened-upon reception of two code signals "Shift" and H successively received, and that the contact thereafter shall be automatically closed upon termination of a received break signal.

A complete recording telegraphic receiver of a type disclosed in the cited patent is symbolized in Fig. 1 by a magnet 8 responsive to received code signals to adjust a plurality of vanes 9 into selective positions in accordance with the received code signals. A selector lever II is released by a power bail ll'after receipt of each code signal I and is urged to rotate clockwise upon pivot rod l8 to engage vanes 8 by tension of spring l4. Should vanes 8 be in selective positions such that no vane is engaged by lever ll, then lever II will rotate further through an angle sufficient to rotate lever l counterclockwise to cause latch l8 to engage lug I! on arm I8 attached to armature l8 of magnet 8, which thus will retain lever l5 in operated position even though lever returns immediately. Lever l8 rotates lever 2| clockwise on pivot rod l8 to release the contact 22 which now separates its contacts by inherent spring tension of its contact members. To permit. the described further rotation of lever II, areceived Shift" code signal eilective upon magnet 8 operates the sixth or lowermost vane 8 clockwise to position its edge opposite a notch in lever II, and a subsequently received "11 code signal operates the third and fifth vanes clockwise, all of which is clearly and concisely disclosed in the cited patent to Morton et al. To reclose the contact 22, deenergization of magnet 8 moves lug |1 out of engagement with latch l8 and into engagement with latch 28, after which reenergization of magnet 8 moves lug |1 out of engagement with latch 28, thus releasing lever I5 which in turn releases lever 2|, permitting spring 24 to operate lever 2| to close the contact 22.

Referring to station-selector distributor I, the distributor is provided with a starting magnet 88 with flve code signal relays 8| to 85 inclusive, with six operating relays 88 to 4| inclusive. and with a driving motor 42.

In "primary normal condition or an inactive station, Fig. 1, line current flows through line relay 4 while local currents flow through windings of relays 88, 88, and 88, resulting from receipt of code signal from transmitter key Q" as will be described under Operation". a

Grounded battery 45 supplies current throug contacts 22, conductor 48 and winding of relay 88 to ground to energize relay 88, also through contacts 22, conductors 48 and 41, armature 48 and front contact and winding of energized relay 88 and armature and contact of relay 88 to ground to energize relay 88, and through conductor 54, armature and front contact of relay 4, conductor" 55, armature 11 and front contact of relay 88 and winding of relay 88 to ground to energize relay 88.

Operation Operator at station W desiring to transmit a message to station X and desiring to exclude station Y and others, if any, from the communicative connection, operates break key 8 to open theline circuit until motor 42 at station W starts into operation, then recloses line circuit I and also operates a locking key 88 to operatei printer motor 8|, thus providing power for keyboardtransmitter 5. By means of transmitter 5, the operator now transmits W, X, Q, representing respectively the calling code signal of originating station W, the calling code signal of desired remote station X and a lockout code signal Q"- for all other stations connected to the line circuit Key 88 then may be restored. These operations by an operator at station W produce the following detailed actions.

Opening the line circuit by break key 8 deenergizes line relay 4 at all stations and thus interrupts the described holding circuits of the slow-to-release relay 88 at each station, and sufflcient time is given by the operated key 8 to permit all relays 88 to release their armatures. At each station, release of the armature of relay 88 interrupts the described holding circuit of relay 88, which accordingly releases its armature 48 and closes an energizing circuit including grounded battery 45, contacts 22, conductors 48 and 41, armature 48 and back contact of relay 88, armature 48 and back contact of relay 88, conductor 5|, winding of relay 4| and ground, thus energizing relay 4| whose operation energizes motor 42 to drive the distributor 1. Deenergization of line relay 4 also has closed an energizing circuit for magnet 88 of distributor 1, including grounded battery 45, conductor 54, armature and back contact of relay 4, conductor 8|, armature 62 and front contact of relay 88, back contact and armature 88 of relay 81, winding of magnet 88 and ground, thus setting distributors 1 into continuous rotation as long as relays 4 thereat remain deenergized. Reclosing of key 8 and consequent reenergization of line relays 4 will interrupt the energizing circuit of magnet 88 and will prepare an operating circuit for relays 8| to 85, but this reenergization of relay 4 may occur when brushes of arm 85 are in any position on the segments of distributor 1 from 88 to 18 and may result in energizing relays 8| to 85 and 48 in any of the combinations, 48, 85-48, 84-85-48, 88-84--8548, 82-88-84- 85-48, 8|8288-84-8548, from which it becomes obvious that code combinations 85, 84- 85, 8884-85, 82-88-84-85, 8l82-88--84-- 85, and blank" code with no relay energized may not be used as station calling code signals. Energization of ,relay 48 deenergizes any of relays 8| to 85 which may have been energized thus by chance.

A line circuit condition preparatory to station selection now has been attained.

line relay 4, conductor 55, long segment 84,

brushes on arm 85, selected short segments in distributor 1 by timed selection and windings of selected relays in set 8|--85 to ground, to energize relays 8|, 82, and 85, each of which establishes a holding circuit. For relays 8|, 82, 88, and 84, a holding circuit will include winding,

'contact and left-hand armature of an operated relay 8|, 82, 88, or 84, conductor 2, back contact and armature 88 of relay 48, back contact and armature 48 of relay 88, conductors 41., 48, contacts 22, switch 44, and grounded battery 45. For relay 85, a holding circuit will include winding, contact and left-hand armature 81 of relay 85, conductor 88, back contact and armature 88 of relay 48, conductors 41, 48, contacts 22, and

grounded battery 45.

A station-calling signal circuit is closed at station W to energize relay 81, including battery 45, conductors 48, 41, armature 48 and back contact of relay 88, armature 88 and back contact of relay 48, conductor 2, armature 84 and front contact, armature 85 and front contact, armature 88 and back contact, armature 81 and back contact, armature 88 and front contact, conductor 8 and winding of relay 81 to ground. This cir cuit is closed only at station W because at no other station do relays 8| to 85 have armatures and contacts connected to correspond to W code signal.

Relay 31 operates its armature 48 to form its holding circuit including battery 45, switch 44, contacts 22, conductors 48, 41, armature 48 and back contact ofrelay 38, armature 43, front contact and winding of relay 31 to ground and also to form a further power supply circuit for printer motor 8| including battery 45, contacts 22, conductors 46 and 41, armature 48 and back contact of relay 38, armature 48 and front contact of relay 31, conductor 83 and motor relay 82 to ground, energizing and operating relay 82 which forms an obvious power circuit for motor 8|.

Relay 31 also operates its armature 8| to place printer selector magnet 8 under control of line relay 4, including battery 45, switch 44, conductor 54, armature and front contact of line relay 4, conductor 55, armature 3| and front contact of relay 31, conductor 51 and winding of magnet 8 to ground. Through the operation of armature 53 of relay 3|, the described circuit for energization of magnet 30 is interrupted to avoid unnecessary operation of magnet 38 at a selected station.

Transmitting the specified code signal X operates, as described above, for transmission of code signal for W" except that relays 3|, 33, 34, and 35 are energized, and except that at station W the electrical impulses of the code signal are efi'ective upon printer selector magnet 8 instead of upon relays 3| to 35, and accordingly a character X isprinted at station W. 3 At station X, but at no other station because at no other station do relays 3| to 35 have their armature contacts connected in accordance with the character code signal for X a station-calling signal circuit is closed to energize relay31 including battery 45, Fig. 1, conductors, and 41, armature 48 and back contact of relay 38, armature 86 and back magnet 8 instead of upon relays 3| to 35, and accordingly a character Q? is printed at stations W and K. At station "Y and other stations, if any are connected in the line circuit I, relays 3|, 32,

' and associated contacts in series of relays 3|-35,

conductor 16 and left-hand winding of relay 38 to ground to energize and operate relay 38, which, in turn, forms a circuit for slow-to-release relay 38 including battery 45, conductor 54, armature and front contact of line relay 4, conductor 55, armature 11 and front contact of relay 38, and winding of relay 39' to ground, and by operation of relay 39 its contacts form a holding circuit for relay 38, including battery 45, switch 44, contacts 22, conductors 46 and 41, armature 48, front contact and winding of relay 38 and armature and front contact of relay 39 to ground. 7

Operation of relay 38 at the moment of engagement of brush 65 with segment 18 to energize relay 35, has opened its back contact, has opened the described holding circuits of relays 3|, 32, 33, and 34, and also has opened the described energizing circuit of relay 4| which releases its armature and opens the power circuit of motor 42. Momentum of motor 42 now propels brushes 85 to engage segments 13 and 83 where an obvious circuit is completed to energize relay 48 and then to engage their normal stop segments as illustrated. Energization and operation of relay 40 interrupts the. describedv holding circuit of,

relay 35 and interrupts again the holding circuits of relays 3|, 32, 33, and 34.

Intercommunication ensues between the selected stations W and X with station Y and others excluded. A sole power of eifective operation remaining to an operator at an excluded station is the ability to enter the connection by operation of break key 8 for a period long enough to release armatures on relay 33 at each station; then to transmit the calling code signal of the excluded station now interfering followed by Q". Motor control signal of spacing nature transmitted by key 8 will interfere with recording in the printers of the intercommunicating stations but will not disrupt the selective communicative line circuit condition. Transmission of the interfering calling code signal will energize relay 31 of that station to qualify the interfering station to record received code signals, and transmission of Q has excluded all remaining stahas emergency power to enter a communicative selective set-up but to do so must break the transmission and identify the interfering station, since transmission of the additional callingcode signal will be recorded at all communicating stations. 1

During intercommunication, operators at active stations may .use break key 6 in customary breaking manner, being careful to keep the break- .ing signals sufliciently short to prevent release of armatures of relays 33.

At close of communication, operator at station W or at any active station, transmits Shift code signal then H" code signal as described in the Morton et al. patent cited, which will oper-, ate member momentarily at each active station. Operation of member clockwise rotates member |5 counterclockwise and latch |8 engages lug H to retain member l5 in operated position during continued energization of magnet 8"an'd line relay 4. Member l5 has rotated member 2| clockwise and thus has removed it from engagement with contacts 22, which now disengage from each other by inherent spring tension, opening the described energizing circuit of relay 38, the described holding circuit of relay 31, and the described energizing circuit of printer motor 8|.

A "secondary normal condition of a conditioned but inactive station now has been attained,

and will endure until another selective sequence is initiated. Each station which had been excluded from communication remains in a primary" condition of inactivity as described above, with relays 4, 38, 38, 39 energized, lug |1 free from latches, and contacts 22 closed. Each station which had been included in communication remains in. a secondary condition of inactivity as now described, with relay 4 energized, magnet 8 energized, lug |1 engaged by latch l8, member l5 restrained by latch'iB, member 2| restrained by member l5, and contacts 22 open.

To initiate another sequence of station selection, an operator first will open a break key 8.

At each station in "primary" normal condition as described, deenergization of line relay 4 and slow-to-release relay I! and energization of magnet 8| will be followed by release 01' armature of relay ll, deenergization of relay 38, energization of relay 4|, and energization of station selector motor 42. At each station in "secondary normal condition as described, deenergization of line relay will deenergize magnet I which, by movement of its arm ll under power from retractive spring .1, will transfer lug I! from latch IE to latch 23. Reclosing the opened break key 6 will reenerg'in all line relays 4. At each station which had been in "primary" normal condition, reenergization of line relay 4 eflects deenergization of magnet and each such station is thus brought into a station condition preparatory to station selection. At each station which had been in secondary" normal condition, reenergization of line relay 4 eflects reenergization of printer selector magnet 8 whose armature, upon being attracted, causes lug II to release latch 23, releasing the member l5, which in turn releases member 2! permitting spring 24 to rotate member 2| to engage and to close contacts 22. Closed contacts 22 complete described circuits for energizing relays 36 and 4|. Relay 4| energizes station selector motor '42 over an obvious circuit and relay it removes printer selector magnet I from control of line relay 4 and places station selector starting magnet 30 under control of line relay 4, thus bringing each such station into a station condition preparatory to station selection. 7

-A line-circuit condition preparatory to station selection now has been attained from a "secondary normal condition of the line circui In circuits of distributor I, relay requiresalways a marking signal in line relay 4, leaving only relays II, 32, 33, 34 available for permutation signals, the mathematical permutational powers being sixteen, but six of these permutations; namely, the code signals for blank," 34, "-34, 3243-34, "42-33-44, and Q, may not be utilized for calling code signals, leaving a maximum of ten directory code signals for station selection.

The present invention having been described above in connection with illustration of a specific embodiment thereof now will be considered more generally and from a contemplation of its broader scope, and will be definitely pointed out in the claims without limitation to the specific illustration utilized herein.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of operating a telegraph system havinga normally inactive single-line circuit associated with a plurality of normally inactive substations upon a single line circuit which comprises, activating a line circuit into station-selective condition, selecting desired stations by transmission of character code signals and qualifying selected stations to record, disqualifying unselected stations by transmission of a character code signal, and transmitting intelligence by similar character code signals to qualified recording Y stations.

and subsequently restoring said line circuit into inactive condition by transmission of iurther character code signals.

3. The method of operating a station-selective telegraph system which comprises, using a single code set of permutation code signals, transmitting code signals of the set to select stations desired for connection, transmitting a further code signal of the set for excluding unselected stations from the connection, transmitting code signals of the set for telegraphing intelligence, and transmitting at least one code signal of the set for terminating the connection.

4. A telegraph system comprising a telegraph line, a plurality of stations associated with said line, selective means at said stations to establish telegraphic recording connection among a plurality of stations in response to character code signals received over said line, means at said stations operable while one or more of said stations are unselected to disable said selective means, in response to further character code signals received over said line, and means at stations having disabled selective means to restore all disabled selective means to operability in response to a signal transmitted from any station.

5. A telegraph system comprising a telegraphic line, a plurality of stations associated with said line, selective means at said stations to establish a connection for recording among a plurality of said stations by transmitting character code signals over said line, means for excluding unselected stations, and means to include subsequently an excluded station, said last mentioned means controllable from any station.

6. A telegraph system comprising a telegraphic line, a plurality of stations associated with said line, selective means at said stations to establish a connection for recording among a plurality of said stations by transmitting character code signals over said line, means for excluding unselected stations, and means operable from an excluded station for breaking said connection.

7. A telegraph system comprising a telegraphic line, a plurality of stations associated with said line, selective means at said stations to establish a connection for recording among a plurality of said stations by transmitting character code signals over said line, means for excluding unselected stations, and means at an excluded station operable under control of the said excluded station for including the said excluded station in the said connection and effective concomitantly to transmit over said line a code signal indicative of the identity of the said excluded station for record at each selected recording station.

8. In a printing telegraph system, a line circuit, a plurality of substations associated with said line circuit, a recording receiver at each substation, a motor for driving said recording receiver, a station selector at each substation, a motor for driving said station selector, means to hold all motors inert, means to activate said motors for station selection, means to stop said station selective motors selectively, and further means common to all stations for stopping unselected station selective motors.

9. In a telegraph system, a telegraph circuit, a plurality of stations associated with said telegraph circuit, a motor driven recording selector and motor therefor at each said station, a motor driven station selector and motor therefor at each said station, means to start all station selector motors, means responsive through said selector motors to start said recorder motors selectively, and means common to all stations to stop all station selector motors at unselected stations.

10. In a telegraph system, a telegraph circuit, a plurality of stations associated with said telegraph circuit, a motor driven recording selector and motor therefor at each said station, a motor driven station selector and motor therefor at each said station, means to start allsaid station selector motors, means responsiveto variant code signals through said station selectors to start said recording motors selectively, and means responsive to a code signal common to all stations to stop all said station selector motors at unselected stations.

11.'In a printing telegraph system, a line cirsuit, a plurality of substations associated with said line circuit, a recording receiver at each sub-v station and a driving motor therefor, a station selector at each substation and a driving motor therefor, means to hold all motors inert, means to activate said motors for station selectors, mean's effective to start said recording receiver driving'r'notors selectively, means in said station selectors to stop all station selector motors, and further means in said recording receivers for stopping all record ng receiver motors.

12. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line circuit, a plurality of stations associated with said circuit, a recording selector and driving motor thereforat each said station, a station selector and driving motor therefor at each sad station, a first relay at each said station controlling when energized said recording motor to operate and said station selector motor to stop, a second relay at each said station controlling said selector motor to stop, means for energizing said first relays individually and selectively, and means for controlling said second relays simultaneously as a group.

' line circuit, a plurality of stations associated with registering code signal relays associated theresaid line circuit, a motor driven station selector at'each station having a commutator and a-set of registering code signal relays associated therewith, a series circuit through contacts of said relays closable only by a predetermined code signal individual to the telegraph station and variant for all telegraph stations, and "a further series circuit closable through contacts of said relays and closable at all stations in response to a single code signal common to all stations.

14. In a telegraphic station selection system, a line circuit, a plurality of stat ons associated with said line circuit, a motor driven station selector at each station having a commutator and aset of with, a series circut through contacts of said relays closable only by a predetermined codesignal individual to the telegraph station and variant for alltelegraph stations, a further series circuit closable through contacts'oi' said relays and closable at all stations in response to a single code signal common to all stat ons, and means for stopping the motor of a station in response to closure of both said circuits.

15; A method of operating a multi-station telegraph system having stations normally nonresponsive to permutation code signals, which includes the steps of rendering all stations responsive to permutation code signals, transmitting permutation code signals to qualify desired stations selectively, rendering unqualified stations non-responsive to selection code signals, communicating amon qualified stations by trans mitting permutation code signals, and then re-' storing all stations to non-responsive condition.

16. In a multi-station telegraph system, a line circuit, a plurality of stations connected to said line circuit, normally non-operating motors at said stations, motor starting means responsive to non-permutation signals oversaid line, motordriven means responsive to permutation signals over said line to stop motors at some stations, further means to restart said stopped motors, and further means responsive to permutation code signals to. stop motors at all stations.

17. In a multi-station telegraph system, motor starting means at all stations responsive to a siz nal common to all stations to startmotorsat all stations, motor stopping means at all stations responsive to a signal common to all stations to stop motors, and station selecting means at all stations responsive to selective permutation control signals variant for every station to disable said motor stopping means at each responding station.

18. In a multi-station telegraph system, motor starting means at all stations responsive to a nonpermutation signal, motor stop means at all stations, means responsive to variant permutation code signals to disable said motor stop means at a station selectively, and further motor starting means responsive at stations whose motors have been stopped by said second mentioned means and eflective to restart said motors.

19. In a multi-station telegraph system, station-selectors at all stations, motors to drive said station-selectors and normally non-operating, means to start all station motors into operation, means to modify desired stations to be nonresponsive to received lockout signals, means to transmit lockout signals to lock out all unmodified stations, motor-driven selector means to communicate among modified stations, and means to restore all motors to non-operating condition.

20. In a. multi-station single-line telegraph system, stations normally non-responsive to communication code signals, means to render said I stations responsive to communication code signals, relays at said stations having contacts to render a station non-responsive to communication: code signals, code signal responsive means of station selectors at unselected stations, and

means operable subsequently to stop all recording motors.

22. A method 01' operating a recording tele-' graph system having a line circuit associated with a plurality of normally inactive stations which comprises, activating the stations of a line circuit into station-selective condition, selecting a plurality of stations by transmission of code signals of a recording-code of signals for purpose of selecting stations, maintaining all unselected stations in station-selective condition through successive operations by which stations are suctelegraph system,'a telegraph line, a

cessively selected, terminating said station-selective condition, and thereafter transmitting code signals of said code for purpose oi. recording.

6 v a,14s,4ss

selective condition through successive received code signals in response to which said stations are successively selected, means to terminate said station-selective condition, and means thereafter responsive to received signals of said to make 5 a message record.

JOHN O. CARR. 

